It's time to service my tranny. I found a great deal on filters at Filter1, but I can't find the fluid anywhere but the Ford dealer & they want $4.62 a quart!
Any suggestions?

 

It's called GOTCHA! Swallow hard and go ahead and pay the FMC dealer's price because that's the only place to my knowledge (and I've checked it out fairly well) that you can buy the SP and any other fluid will ruin your transmission or at the least void your warranty, if discovered. Sorry, there's no shortcut on this one.

 

also there is no way to drain the fluid out of youe torque converter except the flush and drain system the dealer or trans shop has,without getting all the fluid out it kinda a waste.

 

I wonder where the trany shops get Mercon?

 

fmc.

aftermarket shops buy from the direct maufactureres all the time

 

Look up at the tech articles at the top of the page, then go to transmission and read up. I did what was indicated and changed mine this summer. It was easy and let the wife feel like she was helping by starting the truck and turning it off. I used Mobil synthetic and the truck runs and shifts like a champ and I won't have to do it again for quite a while!

 

In Central Texas I found Mercon SP at a local parts house that is owned by Arnold Oil company, a local distributor.

The 30k maintenance only calls for a drain and fill and external tranny filter change. The flush is extra and not necessary. I did the drain and fill. It took 8.25 quarts. I know a local trans shop that won't do the flush.

 

I know Valvoline has Mercon V SP in synthetic blend.I don't know the price but I hope this helps.

 

MERCON V is different from MERCON SP. You can't use MERCON V in a TorqShift without causing problems.

 

Casey is right on. Read your owner manuals.

 

SBV45
If you dont do the flush how do you get the fluid out of the converter,there is no plug,seems kinda like changing your oil and not the filter to me.

 

There are two ways to get the oil out of the torque converter. One is the flush method, and the other is to take the torque converter out of the transmission and drain it.

I use the flush method. Pulling the trans each time I need to change the oil is too much work!

 

tn mac,

You are right, the new fluid mixes with the old. Drain and fill is a recommended procedure. Both drain and fill and flush are shown in the service manual. There is no recommendation or cautions on mixing the trans fluid or concerns on not draining the torque converter.

I looked at the fluid on the dipstick prior to changing. It was still red and clear. I spoke to the manager of a transmission shop that I know and trust. His shop doesn't do flushes. He said on a new trans, he would be okay with doing a flush, but it isn't necessary. Just don't go any longer than the recommended maintenance period.

As for comparing the trans drain and fill with changing oil without changing the filter, you don't have the internal combustion process going on in your tranny. I got your idea, just not the same.

 

I agree not quite the same but it gets the fluid pretty hot, and it also gets dirty, guess this is one of those times we agree to disagree. would that be a another time warp thing, ha ha.

 

So what about changing fluid on the transfer case? I don't beleive it shares the fluid with the trans like some vehicles. What is the schedule for this? What type of fluid does it use?